N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1598, 10 November 1905, Page 3

N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION.

annual summer conference. r r J BEPBEBENTATIONS OF .GISBORNE IDELEGATE.

||;t !(Ees Press ’Association.) ; Ohrislohnroh, last night, The annual summer oonferonoo of the New Zealand Parmcrs’ Union ooonod in Canterbury Agricultural Hall buildings yesterday afiornooo, MrJ. Q. Wilson, t £ o oolcmlal prosidonl, boiug iu tho ohuir o ibera dologatos present were Mosers 0. Ueadoy, colonial vioo-presidont Stubbs (Palcuorstou S North), T. O. Hodgson (Eltham), D. H. 1 ? ay)l L ' R ‘ fillips (Auokland), W. D. Lysuar (Povorty Bav) w. Perry (Wellington), R. J. Veil (£2 borough), 0. J. Ruffo’l (Nelson), J. A. Panelt and M. P. Fryan (North Canterbury), A. Cloland (South Canterbury), R. Soott (Otago), J. MoQueon and V. A. MaoLaron (Southland), and A. J. MoOutdv (oolomal seoretary). The president, in his address, said that th& Union had prosporoJ, and farmora generally looked forward to a vory brichl future. Ho referred to tho depression in Iho lamb trndo, and remarked that Australia was likely to bo New Zealand’s most prominent rival. If the progress of tbo potato disoaso was not arrostod the necessity of giviog the Maoris help would probably have to bo faood. Turning to tho Land Commission ho said the I report to his mind was most extraordin arily against tho weight of evidence,for tho bo k of the evidonoe was in favor of freoho d, and yot the report was only half-and half. Farmers must bo allowed to know something about the matter of land tenuro, and it was obvious they kiew more about il than Iboao who bad only mado a book study of it. Ho was glad to think that the public was taking side c? the farmers in tho laod question, and that in the near future the freehold would bo granted. Referring to the Harvester Trust, he said he thought farmers wore against import datios being plaoed on machinery, hot were quite willing that the duty should be taken off raw material brought into the oolony. Daring the day motions were adopted affirming that all arterial and main roads be maintained by the Publio Works Department, protesting against tho prosont system of co-oporattve labor, and recommending that all publio works be lot by tender, affirming that tenants under lease in perpetuity should be granted tbo right of acquiring the freehold at the original valuation plus additions of an amount to equalise their payments with compound interest added with occupation with right of purohsse tenants, that only ratepayers be empowered to vole on local government matters in oounties, road board, and rural districts. t motion reoommeoding the purchase 10 or 400 acres of Und in the North South Islands, to be worked as experimental farms under the auspices Of the Farmers’ Union, and requesting that in I future dealing with native lands Europeans should be given the option of acquiring the freehold was referred to the next conference. At the evening sitting it wa3 agreed that at least oae veterinary surgeon should bo attached to oaoh stock distriot. Pleasure wa3 expressed at the aotion of the Government in oalling for tenders for the renewal of the South Africa subsidised service.

t, A resolution from Canterbury wa3 agreed to at follows : That this oounoil oonsiders the present system of charging epeoial rates for railage and imported coal and timber an injustice to settlers distant from the sea board, and urges that all coal nnd timber be carried at a uniform rate. It was also agreed that artificial manures iihould be carried on Government railways (it the lowest soale of charges. On the motion of the Hawke's Bay, delegate it was agreed to urge that a'l farmers, including Government tenants, ehould be allowed to place tbeir fire ineorance risks with whatevor company they thought fit. A motion, 11 That the provisions of the porkers’ Compensation Act giving a preferential o'aim over a property as against existing mortgages be repealed, and that Busy claim nnder the Act should only hold jood against the owner’s interest iu any proporty, plus mortgages,” was also carried.

Another remit suggesting alterations in I’ae Land and Income Assessment Act, 1900, iathe direction providing (1) partner ihip exemption (2) taxation of mortgages, 8) in the general operation “cif the Act. was referred to the branches for consideration.

The Exeontive was instructed to take 1)0 consideration the advisableness of istablisbing an accident insurance scheme or the use of members only, Mr W. D. Lyanar, Poverty Bay delegate, brought up a question which was lapsing exporters from Gisborne great njitoevn. Farmers shipped mutton on heir own acoouiot, and a oiean receipt ras given when the ment was received by he ship, but when the ship got home here were, always a Dumber of oaroases

agged as damaged.' These were supposed o ba ooveced by insurance, and olaims rare accordingly made, with most unsatisaotory results. He quoted figures to how the high percentage of carcases reamed as damaged. Exporters had onieavored to find out the cause of the itouble, but had been unsuccessful. Mr McQueen, Southland delegate, who (i also managing director of the Southland Frozen Meat Company, expressed aston nhment at the statement made by Mr [jysDar, saying that the experience of his tompany was that there was very little damage indeed. At 9 p.m. the conference met delegates from the New Zealand implement makers In committee, when the operations of the Harvester Trust were gone into. The Oonferoaco was resumed this morning, Mr J. J. Wilson (colonial president) in the chair. Mr T. Hodgson (Taranaki) moved, “That as the New Zealand farmer has to iiompe'e ogams 1 all comers in the world’s marke‘B with his surplus produce, it is usseotial that the cost of production should not be inoressed by any artificial means. ’’ Mr J. McQueen seconded the motion, vvbiob was really a re-affirmation of one of the planks in the Union's platform. It was a question whether it wss wise to pass auoh a resolution. Mr Leadley said he was in sympathy with the motion. — Carried. Mr T. 0. Hodgson moved, “ That this council is utterly opposed to any iuoreasc upon agricultural and dairying machinery.” Mr McQueen seoondod the motion, Which was carried. After further business the Conference closed at noon.